I was lonely on the beach and looking for company (when not almost losing my Blackberry in the water when the tide came in).

I looked through pub and café doors in the hope of finding someone I knew. All I found were gatherings of unfriendly young people and landlords who were ignoring the smoking ban.

Then I spotted a Facebook post from MSB. She was in a nearby ice cream parlour enjoying a birthday treat of afternoon tea. I was overjoyed at the prospect of ending my loneliness in the company of my dear friend.